I know women better than you do, Mr.Slope, and you may believe me that that signora, as she calls herself, is not a fitting companion for a strict evangelical unmarried young clergyman." How Mr.Slope would have liked to laugh at her, had he dared! But he did not dare.

So he merely said, "I can assure you, Mrs.Proudie, the lady in question is nothing to me." "Well, I hope not, Mr.Slope.But I have considered it my duty to give you this caution.

And now there is another thing I feel myself called on to speak about: it is your conduct to the bishop, Mr.
Slope." "My conduct to the bishop," said he, now truly surprised and ignorant what the lady alluded to.
"Yes, Mr.Slope, your conduct to the bishop.

It is by no means what I would wish to see it." "Has the bishop said anything, Mrs.Proudie ?" "No, the bishop has said nothing.

He probably thinks that any remarks on the matter will come better from me, who first introduced you to his lordship's notice.